Ms. Yang felt vexed recently. It is a happy event to move into a new home, however, half residents in the new community keep dogs. She can see dogs' excrements everywhere, on the lawn, ground even on the bench, in the community when going for a walk in the evening. Ms. Yang thought aloud "everyone is treating dogs humanely. Who cares for people living here?"
According to the latest statistics released by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Public Security, up to June 30th, the entire city registered 458,000 dogs, 3.2 times the figure of 139,000 at the end of 2002. Last year Beijing collects more than 80 million yuan (US$9.67 million) worth of license fees.
In some communities in Beijing, many people are woken by dogs' barks early in the morning. Greenbelts become dogs' toilets. Even worse, some dog keepers fear their pets will be restricted and untie dog belts when going out, which make other adults and children have the jitters all the time.
More than 6,000 Beijingers were attacked by dogs this January. The Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control gives injection to several tens of people attacked by dogs every day. Besides, the number of lawsuits concerning dogs in Beijing's courts is increasing rapidly.
(Chinanews.cn July 13, 2005)
